Terahertz imaging of objects in powders

Author

Herrmann, M. ; Tani, M. ; Watanabe, M. ; Sakai, K.

Author_Institution

Commun. Res. Lab., Kansai Adv. Res. Center, Kobe, Japan

Volume

149

Issue

3

fYear

2002

fDate

6/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

116

Lastpage

120

Abstract

The use of terahertz radiation for detecting and imaging objects hidden in powders is demonstrated. Glass, eggshell and various plastics have been imaged in powders such as wheat flour, talc and sugar. The method may have applications in quality control. The images have been compiled by making use of various features of the terahertz time-domain waveforms. Details arising from refraction and interference close to the resolution limit are discussed. A simple method is suggested for distinguishing between objects of different materials even if their thickness is unknown. The potential of THz radiation for measuring the local density profile of powders is also demonstrated

Keywords

automatic optical inspection; high-speed optical techniques; powders; quality control; submillimetre wave imaging; submillimetre wave spectroscopy; THz radiation; THz wave interference; THz wave refraction; eggshell; glass; imaging objects; local density profile; objects; plastics; powders; quality control; resolution limit; sugar; talc; terahertz imaging; terahertz time-domain waveforms; wheat flour;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Optoelectronics, IEE Proceedings -

Publisher

iet

ISSN

1350-2433

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/ip-opt:20020185

Filename

1025929